How to Make Pollo Frito Y Aranitas

Introduction: How to Make Pollo Frito Y Aranitas

This Instructable will teach you how to make two traditional Puerto Rican foods: a side called Arañitas (Spanish for "little spiders") and pollo frito ("fried chicken"). Anyone can make these simple dishes; if you can make ramen, then you can make these. It may help if you have experience cooking chicken or frying food, though it is not at all necessary.

The history of Arañitas and Pollo Frito is quite the mystery. Many believe that Arañitas is a Spanish variation on a dish introduced to Puerto Rico by African immigrants. Pollo Frito seems to be the Spanish take on chicken, similar in ways to the many other variations found throughout the world.

Arañitas is a traditional variation of the salty side: Puerto Rico's "French Fry." They can be served with meat, rice, or as simple snacks. Pollo frito is a common dish found at family gatherings or community events served as a main dish. Pairing these two together gives you a complete meal with a taste very different from American cuisine, and even from typical "Mexican food" eaten in America.

This dish will take 15 minutes of prep time, and 20 minutes of cooking, giving you a complete meal in just over half an hour.

When you finish cooking, you will enjoy a wonderful traditional dish from the island of Puerto Rico!

Step 9: Flip the Aranitas

When the arañitas begin to brown, flip them over. You will then continue cooking them until they harden. You will know they are done when you prod them with the spatula and they do not give under moderate pressure. This should take about 2-3 additional minutes.

Step 15: Chop the Jalapenos

Note: You can slice a jalapeño length-wise and remove the seeds from it first if you do not care for spicy foods.

Caution: Pepper juices can irritate your skin or eyes. As the juices can bond to your skin, you may want to use gloves while chopping. Otherwise, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap after handling the jalapeños.

Step 19: Flip the Chicken

After about 10 minutes, flip the chicken over with the spatula. At this point, the chicken should appear white rather than pink (see image).

After about 5 additional minutes the chicken will be done. It will appear white to lightly brown. Cut into the center of one of the breasts (you may remove it from the oil to do this). As long as the center is white and not pink, the chicken is done.

Warning: When you flip the chicken, use extreme caution not to splash the hot oil. Flip the chicken slowly to reduce the risk, or use tongs for more control.

Step 20: Serve

Reheat the arañitas in the microwave for 15-20 seconds if needed. Serve the chicken with the arañitas as sides and garnish with lettuce or parsley if desired.

Note: Sprinkle chopped jalapeños onto the chicken if desired.

You have now completed a traditional Puerto Rican dish! You will find the chicken to have a slight kick of jalapeño and be incredibly easy to cut. The Arañitas will be crunchy and golden-brown. Some variations on the preparation include adding chopped onions to the chicken preparation. Also, you can reduce the amount of oil used for the chicken if you wish. This will result in healthier chicken, though possibly less juicy. Do not reduce the amount of oil for the arañitas, as they should float while they cook.
Enjoy your rich, juicy chicken with the crispy "Spiders!"

Comments

Scooch, Since there is no batter coating on the chicken, it turns out to be better for you than the plantains. Wait, I'll explain. Without a crispy crust to isolate the chicken fat from the frying fat, the delicious schmaltz stays right where it is, in the chicken. Furthermore, the crispy coating would have also absorbed some of the frying grease, further ratcheting up the cholesterol count. No coating, and the chicken fat dissolves into the cooking oil and you have a piece of bird with less fat than you started out with. The plantains, on the other hand, are all starch and are going to absorb some of what ever fat you cook them in. That in mind, if you cook the plantain latkes after you've cooked the uncoated chicken, you should have some marvelous chicken flavored Aranitas. Yours, Marya